September’s here, and in the Northwest that means a lot of things: back to school for the kiddos, that beautifully golden autumn light that comes with the waning summer, and, perhaps most importantly, the release of the September/October issue of Seattle magazine. Focused on fall arts and travel, it’s full of inspiring places to go, things to do, and must-see exhibitions and shows. From a look at Iceland’s civic and social dedication to the arts to the reinvention of a locally favorite resort on Whidbey Island, we offer escapes for food lovers, art appreciators, and anyone with an innate curiosity about the world. 

Our cover stars, the Brudi Brothers—three real-life siblings who grew up in north Seattle—know a thing or two about travel, having spent time in Europe as sidewalk buskers before returning home to play their instruments at farmers markets around the city. The trio has steadily gained popularity through hard work and grit; their smash hit, “Me More Cowboy Than You,” has more than 52 million streams on Spotify. 

Over the summer, the band toured extensively, bringing the brothers’ unique take on Americana to stages across Europe and the East Coast. In October, the Brudi Brothers are opening for Kacey Musgraves at Climate Pledge Arena, the largest venue they have ever played, before heading into the studio to record a new album. Music writer Rev. Adam McKinney chatted with George, Conrad, and Johannes Brudi as they toured, learning more about the dynamics of working with family, the guys’ time in Germany as teenagers, and how busking made them stronger as a band. 

As a complement to our Fall Arts preview, we’re including a spotlight on local design and architecture, including a roundup of designers to watch and two striking home features that exemplify the Pacific Northwest architectural vernacular. Other highlights include a cheese-centric tour around Washington that will have you visiting creameries, farms, and shops offering some of the state’s most delectable dairy bites.  

In Seattle Business, Paul Zitarelli, a University of Washington alum and founder of Full Pull Wines, writes about his approach to business (he prizes a healthy work-life balance), and how a slow-and-steady growth mindset set him up to succeed for more than two decades. Joe Whinney, one of the cofounders of Theo Chocolate, is in his second act in the industry, leading Magic Chocolate to award-winning success while staying true to his personal values—often a hard choice when thinking about the bottom line. For fashion designer Angeline Brunk, sticking to her convictions and keeping an open mind led her to launch her namesake fashion line (and soon a brick-and-mortar atelier in Kirkland) after a planned trip to Italy turned into the first steps of a new chapter. 

Closing out the issue is a recap of the first of our recently reintroduced issue launch parties, where we gather with writers, artists, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and tastemakers to reveal the freshly printed Seattle magazine and celebrate the creativity, innovation, and inspiration happening around the region. On September 9, we are hosting our second launch party, this time for the September/October issue, at Traver Gallery in West Canal Yards. There are still tickets available here. We’ve got some fun surprises planned—you won’t want to miss it!